Bedford Tour Guides’ winter hiatus is nearly over, and the new season of guided walks will launch this Sunday (12 April), giving Bedfordians and visitors a chance to explore the rich tapestry of Bedford’s history.
A qualified guide leads each walk and offers residents and visitors alike the opportunity to learn more about the places and people who have helped shape our town.
Each Wednesday, we publish the forthcoming walks in the Bedford Clanger’s weekly What’s On Guide, or you can find the full list on their website here.
The walks take place each Sunday morning, the first and last Wednesday morning of the month and on ocassional Tuesdays. There are ten walks to choose from, and each walk costs just £4 per adult and £2 for children over the age of eight.
You can book via the Higgins website or the Box Office on 01234 718044. Use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee.
To further pique your interest, here’s a taste of this year’s walks:
“Plaques and Plinths” guided walk
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind some of the blue plaques that adorn several buildings around the town, or wanted to know more about some of the statues and monuments that grace the town centre?
This walk will reveal the stories behind the Plaques & Plinths and why such recognition is warranted.
“I Never Knew That” guided walk
The most commonly heard phrase after the completion of a guided walk. This walk encompasses all that information about Bedford and its many features that YOU never knew.
“The Life and Times of John Bunyan” guided walk
Discover the story of Bedford’s most famous son, who was imprisoned for his non-conformist preaching.
Visit the site of the cottage in which John and his family lived, the churches in which he worshipped and the site of the gaol in which he spent 12 long years and began to write one of the best-selling books in history, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
“Bedford’s Movers and Shakers” guided walk
You will know of the ‘mugshot’, but did you know it was first introduced into the criminal justice system by Robert Evan Roberts, a reforming governor of Bedford Prison in Victorian times?
Join this walk and meet Roberts and others who made a difference in Bedford and in the world; an astronomer, a polar explorer, the first woman county councillor, and discover how some of the most attractive private dwellings in Bedford came to grace this area of town.
N.B. Please note that this walk starts from St Loyes, opposite Bedford Prison
“The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown” guided walk
The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown is undoubtedly the River Great Ouse and its Embankment.
This entertaining and informative circular walk takes you along the banks of the river, which has been described as one of the finest riverside settings in England. Learn the story of the Victorian Embankment development and enjoy a walk in the ornamental gardens.
“The Rise and Fall of Bedford Castle” guided walk
The Norman Conquest of Britain witnessed the introduction of castles to the landscape, and in Bedford, a major castle was built in the 12th century.
Walk through the old castle grounds, see the mound on which it once stood and hear the story of the castle and its demise in the siege of 1224, over 800 years ago.
“Bedford in World War II” guided walk
A walk that reveals the way of life in Bedford and some of the little-known facts about the role it played during World War II.
Learn how Bedford became the main hub of the BBC during the war and how it also became a centre of wartime entertainment. Discover a ‘secret’ Bedford and the town’s connections to the codebreakers at Bletchley Park.
“Bedford’s South Bank Show” guided walk
The settlement south of the River Great Ouse is attributed in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 915 to King Edward the Elder. During the latter half of the 20th Century, the south of Bedford changed dramatically as modern development took place.
This walk reveals the medieval past and the more recent lost industry, buildings, public houses and the importance of Bedford’s South Bank to the development of the town.
“A Tour of St Paul’s Church” guided walk
St. Paul’s church has been at the centre of Bedford’s life for over one thousand years and has many stories to tell. Join a tour of this beautiful church in the heart of Bedford and hear its story.
“A Tour of St Peter’s Church” guided walk
St. Peter’s church is one of the oldest Saxon churches in Bedfordshire.
It has withstood attacks by the Vikings, the Normans and two world wars, and has played an important part in the history and development of Bedford. Join a tour of this historic church and discover its story.
Unless otherwise specified, walkers should meet at 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square.
